[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on the 29th (local time) that Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has been the sole nominee for the next Director-General.
WHO stated that as of the 23rd of last month, it had received nominations for the next Director-General from member countries, with 28 countries submitting letters of recommendation, and Tedros being the only candidate.
The 28 countries included European nations such as France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain, as well as African countries like Kenya and Rwanda. China was not on the list of recommending countries announced by WHO, and despite being the sole candidate, Tedros did not receive a recommendation from his home country, Ethiopia.
Tedros had been recommended by the previous government, but he is currently estranged from the current government due to allegations that he supported the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), a rebel group in his hometown Tigray, which has recently experienced civil war.
WHO plans to hold an Executive Board meeting in January next year to review whether Tedros meets the criteria set by the World Health Assembly (WHA) and to conduct interviews. Subsequently, WHO will hold the WHA in May of the same year and elect the next Director-General through a secret ballot by member countries.
Tedros took office as WHO Director-General in 2017, becoming the first African to lead a United Nations agency. According to WHO regulations, the Director-General may serve one renewal term, with a term length of five years.
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